Stage Magician of the Year talks beauty and mentalism

Cosmic synth pop act embarks upon its maiden voyage

By Samantha Anne Scott

Hyperland wants to take you on an intergalactic pleasure cruise. The Alibi was alerted to the synth pop duo's celestial plans via a colorful in-flight manual delivered to our music desk. The band releases its six-song EP on Tuesday, Oct. 18, but Burqueños can experience “Tomorrow, Today” at the band's live debut on Saturday.

I have a small box of spell supplies, still quite useful to one who would use them. These items have been opened and partially used. They are commonly used by practitioners of urban folk magic in casting spells for various purposes.

I'm willing to swap these with someone who'd be interested. Trade items might include other old/used spell supplies, used books (I especially like spellbooks and history books), unwanted gift certificates or whatever else you think might be worthwhile.

Items include:

Indio Money Drawing Wash

Lucky Mojo Love Me Sachet Powder

Anna Riva St. Jude Incense

Anna Riva Banishing Incense

Custom Follow Me Boy Sachet Powder

Hem Vetivert Incense

Morning Star Pine Incense

Augustine's Spiritual Goods Fast Luck Incense

F. Sanchez Millionaire Oil

Indio I Can You Can't Oil

Artico Tropical Rain Oil

Some packages are almost untouched while others might be as much as 2/3rds used, but these all have enough product for one or more uses in them. Some items, admittedly, are things I didn't like (such as the Morningstar incense) others were bought for goals I'm no longer pursuing.

My intent was to trade for the whole lot, but if you are interested in swapping for just one of the items I'm willing to consider it. If that happens, I will update the listing to reflect what products are still available.

The Boston Celtics, a team merely two years removed from winning a title, were counted out this postseason. The Celts were seen as aging: Their coach was maybe making his move to retirement; their star players were either considered too old to make any more serious contributions (Kevin Garnett), or a bad fit for this team (Ray Allen), or just the echo of something that used to be great but now would have to fill the veteran role for a new squad (Paul Pierce).

Their second-round opponent was the Cleveland Cavaliers—they of the best record in the NBA this season, they of the MVP LeBron James. Cleveland was the most serious contender for the crown.

The Cavs-Celtics series was many things, but a coronation of King James it was not. The Celtics, miraculously peaking at exactly the right time, took out LeBron and the Cavs and turned their sights to the previously-undefeated-in-these-playoffs Orlando Magic. The Magic went to the NBA Finals last year without their star point guard Jameer Nelson playing at a high level, as he'd just come back from injury. They're equipped with the Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard. The Magic have homecourt advantage in the series, thanks to a superior record in the regular season.

Yet, somehow, again, the Celtics found a way to win.

Garnett, Allen and Pierce were joined in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals by Rajon Rondo, who is in the midst of completing a serious bid for “Player most able to transform from a pellet gun to a fully automatic weapon of death in the playoffs.”

They smashed the Magic in Game 1, building a 20-point lead and looking like the Incredible Hulk showing up to battle the local middle-school bully. The finished up by four, and won 92-88. Game 2 was closer but ultimately got the same result: a Celtics win. The Magic are now heading to Boston to play on Team Green's home floor, down in a best of seven series 2-0.

Not only have the Celtics found a way to win, but they've been doing so (other than the pretty close, but never truly in doubt Game 2 of the ECF) in dominating fashion. It's much akin to the last player off the bench somehow coming into the game and turning in a virtuoso performance—and then doing the same thing for the next five games in a row.

This Celtics team, which no one gave much credit at all to, looks primed to ride its hot hand into the NBA Finals, where they will either meet the upstart Phoenix Suns and their point guard extraordinaire, Steve Nash, or set up a rematch of the public's most beloved series in basketball: the Los Angeles Lakers versus the Boston Celtics. This in no way counts out the Orlando Magic, who have some serious heft on their side. But it should serve at least as a mea culpa from at least one writer who didn't take the Celtics seriously enough.

Like Bruce Banner, this team is playing very, very angry ball right now. And they seem to be getting better.